So say the members of Congress and senators who have introduced bills barring the creation of new ones in a number of states, including Utah (House, Senate), Nevada (House, Senate), California (House Colorado (House), and Montana (House). S. 472, the National Monuments Act of 2009, would provide for congressional approval of national monuments, and restrictions [...]
Last week, the Congressional Budget Office issued a cost estimate for H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009. The bill would establish not one, but two “cap-and-trade” programs designed to limit the release of undesirable gasses into the atmosphere. “Cap-and-trade” is when the government limits (“caps”) the emissions of greenhouse gasses [...]
We’ve pointed out new constitutional amendments a couple of times here. Well, a bunch of new ones are on Congress’ docket. Just for you, we’ve organized them into two piles. From the consistent-with-our-scheme-of-negative-rights pile, there’s: H. J. Res. 28, Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States regarding the right to vote H. [...]
No, this is not about the latest energy drink. The Environmental Protection Agency has decided not to rid drinking water of a toxic rocket fuel ingredient called perchlorate that can be found in public water supplies around the country. The scuttlebutt suggests that the Department of Defense would be seriously on the hook if EPA [...]
In not one, but two proposed regulations, the Environmental Protection Agency is adding new sites to the National Priorities List. Maybe one of them is in your home town! Our congratulations go out to: Iron King Mine–Humboldt Smelter in Dewey-Humboldt, AZ Nelson Tunnel/Commodore Waste Rock in Creede, CO Flash Cleaners in Pompano Beach, FL Aberdeen [...]
The Congressional Budget Office came out with a cost estimate today for S. 3297, the Advancing America’s Priorities Act, which has also been called the “Coburn Omnibus.” It combines 36 pieces of federal legislation into one. Yesterday, adding up all the pieces of the Coburn Omnibus, we came up with about $65 per U.S. family. [...]
Republican Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma didn’t come to Washington, D.C. to grow the government. A long time critic of federal spending and power, he has made prolific use of “holds” to prevent legislation he doesn’t like from moving forward. Now Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has reached his wit’s end. He has cobbled [...]